Welcome to the Truth@Life Blog Site by Curtis Songer


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There are 5 threads of thought in this blog site:
1. Church Stuff - things pertaining to the evangelical Christian Church of today
2. Leadership Corner - concepts on management & leadership
3. Two Becoming One - principles of marriage enrichment
4. Train Up a Child - principles of parenting
5. Personal Thoughts - my mental ramblings on how God is growing me

I highly recommend you find an entry on one of these topics that interests you and click on that label at the end of that entry. It will bring up all the entries on that particular category. And be sure to check out the great web site links in the lower right corner of this page - Enjoy!

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Passionate Leadership Inspires Us

What is it that is so mesmerizing about some great leaders? Why is it that they seem so confident, poised, inspiring, passionate, and charismatic? These leaders open themselves to an unbridled energy, pure and authentic, fearless and free. They breathe life into death, hope into despair and courage into trepidation. They unite power and grace, health and vitality, creativity and innovation. They light the way to discovery, growth and on-going improvement. They are empowering and transformative in nature, morphing dispirited victims into enlightened champions. They see things differently. What some see as a worry they view as a new challenge. What some would consider a failure they perceive as a lesson learned and a chance to rise again. They turn doubt into dare. They open doors of adventure, entrepreneurship and creative expression. They take risks others might avoid. They tap into curiosity, boldness, assertiveness and confidence - critical elements to effectively leading change and inspiring people. Passionate leaders let go of resistance. They approach each day with joy, enthusiasm and positive expectations. They are deliberate and mindful in their actions and reactions. We all have choice, an ability to respond differently to any given stimulus. We can respond subconsciously, as if in our sleep or on autopilot, or we can respond consciously with discernment. It doesn't matter what provokes us or “pushes our buttons,” we have choice. We can choose to react negatively with fear, attack, defense or retreat. Or we can choose to respond positively with hope, faith, optimism and creativity. Great leaders do the latter. Leading with passion requires that we remain positive, attracting positive energy into our lives and into the solutions we seek. Problems will always come and go. This is the nature of the universe. However, there is no problem without a solution and the passionate leader always remembers this powerful truth. We are never given a challenge we cannot meet or a problem we cannot solve. This is what keeps life interesting. We grow when we rise to these challenges. We overcome fear by confronting it and letting it go. At the beginning of each day, the passionate leader remembers that we are beings destined to create a better world by thinking positively and acting wholeheartedly. And at the end of the day, the passionate leader realizes that to inspire others, we must be inspired ourselves. Are you a passionate leader? Do you need assistance overcoming the regrets of the past or the blockage of the present? Truth@Life can help. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a FREE consultation. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/

Friday, February 14, 2014

Regrets

Well, the past is playing with my head and failure knocks me down again; I’m reminded of the wrong that I have said and done. My mistakes are running through my mind - just can't forget what lies behind. I’ll relive my days in the middle of the night. I struggle with my pain, I wrestle with my pride. Sometimes I feel alone and I cry. I don't fit in and I don’t feel like I belong anywhere. I don’t measure up to much in this life. In this life I know what I’ve been. But in the future do I know what I can be? Do I have to carry the weight of who I’ve been into the future of who I can be? Have you ever felt this way? Your past does not have to define your future. Feelings of failure and regret can end. Truth@Life can help. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a FREE consultation. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Change Your Outlook on Worrying

No matter what your circumstances, you can still have peace and joy. There once was a man who worried way too much. In order to worry less, he decided that every time he started to worry about something, he would write it down on a piece of paper and put it in a box that he called his "worry box." Once a week he would take the slips of paper out of the box and allow himself to worry about those things for one day. In doing, this he thought, "I will dramatically cut down on the time and emotion I put into worrying." Much to his surprise the results were even more dramatic than he expected. You see, about half of the things he had written own had already resolved themselves completely satisfactorily! In fact, studies show that: 40% of the things we worry about will never happen. 30% of the things we worry about are in the past and we have no control over them. 12% of the things we worry about are criticisms of us that are likely not even true. 10% of the things we worry about concern our health, many of these outside of our control, and the worry makes us sicker. Only 8% of the things we worry about are are things we can and should do something about! So worrying is basically wasting today's time to clutter up tomorrow's opportunities, with yesterday's troubles. God wants is to live a worry-free life. If God is for us, who can stand against us? If we have God in our life, there is no need to worry. He already has a plan. The Bible says, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4-9 NIV) Here are several guidelines concerning worrying: 1. Don't let fear keep you from trusting God. Look at Paul's life. He wrote the Scripture above while He was in a prison, on death row! If we fear, we cannot trust (God). Worry comes from fear. We cannot worry and trust God. Paul said, "Don't worry about ANYTHING, instead pray about EVERYTHING!" When we worry, we are showing that we have fear, and that the basis of our trust is in ourselves or something besides God. Your worry will steal your peace and joy. 2. Adjust your focus. Turn your attention to something else. If we are too focused on worry, we can't focus on anything else. If we don't worry, we don't know what to do! Paul says, fix your thoughts on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." 3. Experience the peace, joy, and contentment God desires for you. As Christians in America, we think once our kids are grown, we are healthy, and we have plenty of money, we will have peace and joy. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a great deception. The peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble, but rather the confidence that Jesus is with is always - especially during difficult times. Paul said, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13 NIV) This is the secret to peace, joy, and contentment in your life. You can have it all right now! Does worry control your life? Do you ever wonder if this is all there is to life or if you could be doing more to make a greater impact and to live a life of greater significance? Truth@Life can help. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a FREE consultation. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/

Monday, February 3, 2014

This is Your Life

I recently came across the lyrics to the song, "This Is Your Life", by Switchfoot. The lyrics captured the question that so many people are, or should be, asking themselves today: Is this all there is? I am doing all I can to make a difference? This group has an amazing appeal to a broad audience, I think because they capture the inner thoughts and concerns that so many of us struggle with, whether or not we voice them: Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead Yesterday is a promise that you've broken Don't close your eyes, don't close your eyes This is your life and today is all you've got now Yeah, and today is all you'll ever have Don't close your eyes Don't close your eyes This is your life, are you who you want to be? This is your life, are you who you want to be? This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be? When the world was younger and you had everything to lose Yesterday is a kid in the corner Yesterday is dead and over This is your life, are you who you want to be? This is your life, are you who you want to be? This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be? When the world was younger and you had everything to lose Don't close your eyes Don't close your eyes Don't close your eyes Don't close your eyes This is your life are you who you want to be? This is your life are you who you want to be? This is your life, are you who you want to be? This is your life, are you who you want to be? This is your life, is it everything you dreamed it would be When the world was younger and you had everything to lose And you had everything to lose. See http://www.switchfoot.com/ for more of Switchfoot's music and mission. Do you ever wonder if this is all there is to life or if you could be doing more to make a greater impact? To live a life of greater significance? Truth@Life can help. Call 248-396-6255 or email me at curtis.songer@gmail.com for a FREE consultation. For more info on help I can provide check out http://truthatlife.com/